Lifeplan Australia Friendly Society Ltd v Woff [2016] FCA 364

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Lifeplan Australia Friendly Society Ltd v Woff [2016] FCA 364 File number: SAD 99 of 2012

Judge: BESANKO J

Date of judgment: 14 April 2016

Catchwords: COSTS – costs order following final judgment – where multiple Calderbank offers made – where offer of compromise made under r 25.01 of Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) – whether it was unreasonable to reject offers – whether indemnity costs should be awarded. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – form of final orders – whether declarations should be made – consideration of Court's power to make declarations – where applicants established some but not all elements of claim – where no foreseeable consequences of declaration - where no public interest.

Legislation: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 1317H(2) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 25

Cases cited: Ainsworth and Another v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 66 ALJR 271; (1992) 106 ALR 11 Calderbank v Calderbank [1976] Fam 93 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Limited (1972) 127 CLR 421 Gardner and Another v Dairy Industry Authority of New South Wales (1977) 52 ALJR 80; (1977) 18 ALR 55 Ibeneweka v Egbuna [1964] 1 WLR 219 Lifeplan Australia Friendly Society Ltd v Woff [2012] FCA 1415 Lifeplan Australia Friendly Society Ltd v Woff [2016] FCA 248 Rural Press Limited v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2003] HCA 75; (2003) 216 CLR 53 SC Johnson and Son Pty Ltd v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] FCA 1362 Tobacco Institute of Australia Limited v Australian Federation of Consumer Organisations Inc (No 2) (1993) 41 FCR 89 Truth About Motorways Pty Ltd v Macquarie Infrastructure Management Ltd [2000] HCA 11; (2000) 200 CLR 591